Adult Development Center Gives Special Needs Arkansans Independence

08/10/2014 09:41 PM

08/10/2014 10:45 PM

SILOAM SPRINGS--For almost 40 years the Adult Development Center in Siloam Springs have been helping Arkansan's with Special needs. Now just like Northwest Arkansas the center is growing and hoping to expand the program to help anyone with a disability.

SILOAM SPRINGS--For almost 40 years the Adult Development Center in Siloam Springs has been helping Arkansans with special needs. Now just like the rest of Northwest Arkansas the center is growing, and they are hoping to expand the program to help anyone with a disability. Employees at the Adult Development Center are happy to come to work everyday. For Larry Hamilton, it's a source of pride as well as income. "What can you say , it's nice to make a good paycheck, it's nice to get some money in your pocket go home and you can feel happy about that, and knowing that you did something right." Hamilton said. Director of the program, Kolin Blakely believes his program expects a lot from the employee's, but it's all to build independence. "I don't want to just baby-sit these people. I don't wanna just do things for them I want them to get to work on their own, I want them to be able to provide their food for the day, just like any other job." Blakely said. "I think there's a lot of facilities out there, there's such a routine, that they don't allow the individual to be independent, and do things on their own." Blakely continued. Partnering with John Brown University in Siloam Springs, the center hopes to become more self sufficient, as well as open new job opportunities by starting a paper shredding company. In addition, the center is waiting to apply with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, to be able to accept more people with disabilities."One of my big goals here is not always rely on State and Federal grants, I wanna be more self-sufficient, and the only way to do that is to have a product that we do on our own." Blakely said. For employee Bobby Sue Whitlock the program isn't just a job, but an achievement. "At the end of the day, I feel so good about myself, cause I've accomplished so many things just in...one day." Whitlock said. Her brother, Andrew Whitlock, feels the same way. "We got a place to go to work and make money. like a lot of people they don't have jobs, and we're fortunate that we do." Whitlock said. Director of the program, Kolin Blakely, invites anyone to come down and check out the facility in Siloam Springs. "Although we've been here 40 years, there's still a lot of people that don't know what we do, and I invite anybody to come down here, you don't have to make an appointment." Blakely said.

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